I occasionally get asked, where do you get your writing ideas from? Good question.

Usually, my ideas are taken straight from my journals then refined into a simple one-minute idea. Because I write down my thoughts daily, there’s rarely a drought for things to share.

But sometimes, nothing clicks. Maybe none of my scribblings feel interesting or unique enough, or I feel like something fresh. That’s where goldmine sources come in.

Goldmine sources are places you visit to find new ideas. These could be books, videos, blog posts, or talking to people. The point of these sources is to find ideas that you resonate with, from people you respect. The purpose of this could be to share content yourself, or just to change the way you think.

My goldmine sources are predominantly blog posts. I adore blogs, especially ones that are well written and have similar interests to myself. Three goldmine blogs I read on a weekly basis are:

• Seth’s blog – on productivity, business, learning and education.
• Derek Sivers – on happiness, life, music and creativity.
• Farnam Street – on decision making, self-improvement, reading and mental models.

Whenever I’m in an idea drought, I often browse these blogs for inspiration. The writing is clear, succinct and the ideas are powerful.

Inputs determine outputs. Having goldmine sources to continuously feed you with ideas is one of the most important ways to be a stronger thinker.

There are many potent teachers that can transform your thinking.

Choose them wisely.